Curtain clasp



Sept. 23, 1958 A. N. HANNA CURTAIN CLASP Filed Nov. 5, 1955 INVENTOR.4770 /V. fl4/Y44 lrrak 2,852,831 Patented Sept. 23, 1952;

United States Patent Ofiiice CURTAIN CLASP Atto N. Hanna, AtlanticHighlands, N. J. Application November 3, 1955, Serial No. 544,785 1Claim. (Cl. 24-259 The present invention relates to a clasp particularlydesigned for gripping fabric and for movably mounting the fabric withrespect to a support rod. It is therefore adapted for use with curtains,draperies, or the like.

The present invention has for its prime object the pro vision of aunitary structure which will function to releasably grasp drapery,curtain fabric or the like and which will also be mountable on a supportrod or bar and slidable thereover. It is most desirable that such astructure be attachable to and detachable from the fabric when thestructure is on the support rod or bar as well as otherwise, thusfacilitating adjustment of the hanging fabric to provide for uniformityof folding or draping of the fabric. Another prime consideration is toprovide means for gripping the fabric with considerable reliability sothat the clasp, although small and inexpensive, can be used with heavyas well as light fabrics.

Various structures have been devised in the'past with these objectivesin mind, but with indiiferent success. A secure and reliable grip on thefabric has been thought to be antithetical to extremesimplicity ofconstruction. Consequently inexpensive clasps have been unreliable, andconversely reliable clasps have been comparatively expensive.

In accordance with the present invention here disclosed these twoapparently contradictory criteria have been simultaneously satisfied ina single construction.

The clasp of the present invention comprises a resilient looped bodyportion biased so as to tendto expand. A first of the free terminalportions of the body portion is provided with an elongated slot and,spaced from the outer extremity of that slot, an aperture. The secondterminal portion has a width less than the width of the slot and extendsthrough the slot. The outer extremities of the two terminal portions arebent so that both extend in the same direction from the body portion,the second terminal portion extending along the first terminal portionto a point beyond the outer extremity of the slot in the latter. Its tipis then bent substantially at right angles so as to enter and preferablypass through and beyond the aperture in the first terminal portion, thataperture being appreciably larger than the tip of the second terminalportion so as to provide for an appreciable clearance around that tip.When the body portion tends to expand, it urges the terminal portionsagainst one another, the tip of the second terminal portion thus beingurged into and through the aperture in the first terminal portion. Thefabric to be held by the clasp is interposed between the terminalportions While the terminal portions are separated, and when theterminal portions are released the tip of the second terminal portionwill force the fabric into the aperture in the first terminal portionand thus reliably hold it in place.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as mayhereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the construction ofthe curtain clasp or the like as defined in the appended claim and asdescribed in this 2 specification, taken together with the followingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a three-quarter perspective view showing the clasp in use;

Fig. 2 is a three-quarter perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of theclasp itself;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the clasp showing the manner inwhichit is manipulated in order to secure a sheet of fabric thereto;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line ss of Fig. 4.

The clasp may be formed from a single strip of suitable resilientmaterial which may readily be formed by conventional stampingoperations. It comprises a body portion generally designated 2 whichnormally resiliently tends to assume a straightened shape but which isdistorted into loop form, having a curved top 4 and spaced sides 6. Thesize of the loop is such as to be capable of loosely receivingtherewithin the supportbar or rod 8. It

i will be understood, particularly from the drawings, that the termloop, is not limited to a circular configuration, but may take anyconvenient shape consistent with its intended function.

The body portion 2 has a pair of free terminal portions generallydesignated 10 and 12. The terminal portion 10 is provided with anelongated slot 14 and with an aperture16 spaced from the-outer extremityof the slot 14 by means of strip 18. The terminal portion 10 is bent at20 so that its tip extends out from the body portion 2 in a givendirection, the bend at 20 being across the slot 14 approximately midwayof its length.

The terminal portion 12 is of reduced width, that width being less thanthe width of the slot 14. Where it meets the wider side 6 of the bodyportion 2 a ledge 22 is defined. The terminal portion 12 is bent at 24so that its extremity extends from the body portion 2 in the samedirection as the extremity of the terminal portion 18. The bend 24 isspaced outwardly an appreciable distance from the ledge 22. The terminalportion 12 extends through the slot 14, and its extremity extendsoutwardly beyond the strip 18 which separates the slot 14 from theaperture 16. The tip 28 of the terminal portion 12 is bent at 26 so asto extend substantially at right angles to said given direction towardand in line with the aperture 16, and the end surface of that tip 28 maybe serrated to define gripping teeth.

The resiliency of the body portion 2 in tending to assume a straightenedposition will tend to urge the terminal portions 10 and 12 toward oneanother until the tip 28 of the terminal portion 12 enters and passesthrough and beyond the aperture 16 in the terminal portion 10. Movementin this direction will be positively limited by engagement between theterminal. portion 12 and the strip 18 on the terminal portion 10. Inthis position the loop defined by the body portion 2 will besulficiently large so as to freely pass over the support bar or rod 8.

When it is desired to attach a sheet of fabric 30 thereto the clasp,even when in position on the rod 8, is gripped between the fingers andsides 6 are caused to move toward one another, as indicated in Fig. 3.The extent to which this movement is permitted Will be limited byengagement between the terminal portion 10 and the ledges 22 at theinner end of the terminal portion 12. In this position the serrated tip28 of the terminal portion 12 will be appreciably spaced from the outerextremity of the terminal portion 10, so that there is ample room tointerpose the fabric sheet 30 therebetween, that sheet being moved upinto position as indicated by the arrow 32. With the fabric sheet 30 inposition, pressure is released from the sides agssaset 6 of the bodyportion 2, that body portion will resiliently tend to straighten, theserrated tip 28 of the terminal portion 12 will once again move towardand into the aperture lfi-in-the-terminal portion10 ,-and a-porti'onbfthe fabric sheet 30, designated 30 will be carried-into'the aperture- 16thereby. The .aperture-16,' 'as may clearly be seen from Figs. 2 and 5,is appreciably -larger than the serrated tip 28,- 'sothat the-fabric"portion 3O 'maybe accommodated within the 'aperture l6-by-reason of;theclearance there. provided-r completely around the tip -28. Because thefabric is received within the aperture 16, and further because it isgripped by the serrations-'28, it is very reliably :held: in position,but without permanently damaging or penetrating the fabric, andconseguentlythe clasp-iscapableof}supporting-fabric sheets 30 fconsiderable weight, and of retaining them in position even whenthey maybepulled orotherwise stressed. That-the 'fabrio 30-need =not be'penetrated is an important point,

particularly when plastic sheetsare involved, since penetration,especially of t such sheets, produces foci from which tearsor tipstend'to extend.

If it should bedesired to rearrange-the fabric sheet 30 in order toequalize the supports along the-length thereof or provide for a desireddegree of draping or folding, this may easily be done while the claspsremain on the rod8 merely by compressing the clasps as shown inFiguB,readjusting the sheet-30, and then releasing the clasps.

It will be appreciated from the above that the'structure of ,the-instantinvention is extremely simple, and 'consequentlythatthe claspsof theinstant-invention may-be manufactured veryr'eadily-and atvery -lowcost.Nevertheless, they are simple to use and are extremely reliable inoperation. I

While bflt a'single' embodiment ofthe present invention has been heredisclosed,"-it*will be apparent that 'many variations may be madetherein, all within the spirit .of

the instant invention as defined in the following claim.

I claim:

A curtain clasp or the like comprising a resilient body portion defininga loop and terminating in two free terminal portions, one of saidterminal portions having a slot extending longitudinally therealong andhaving an aperture adjacent its tip and extending laterally thereof foran appreciable proportiotiof-thewidth thereof, said aperture beingseparatedfrom said slot-by a strip, said one of said terminal portionsbeingbent intermediate itsl'ength and across" saidslot Eintermedia'tethelength of 'said.::slot so that its end extends in a given direction, theother of said terminal portions-havingaWidth'less' than the width of andextending through said slot and being bent intermediate its length sothat its end extends substantially in said given direction beyond saidstrip, the tip of said end of said -other of: said terminal portionsbeingbent substantially at right angles thereto and having a Widthappreciably-less than the width ofsaid aperture so as to enter and passthrough'andbeyond said aperture with an appreciable clearancetherearound; saidbody portion biasing said terminal'portion ends towardone another.

' References Cited in the file' of this patent UNITED'STATES PATENTS657' ;941 Hawkins "Feb. '12, 1901 '1,373,493 Dye Apr. 5, 1921 1;698,379Taylor Jan. 8, 1929 2,215,725 Ma'rtins"on Sept. 24,1940 12,254,798 DyeSpt; 2, 1941 2,428;558 "Drucker Oot. 7, 1947 I FOREIGN PATENTS 7013624"Fame--; rh t 'Jan. 12, 1931

